2833 results about "Digital video" patented technology

A novel cable gateway system and architecture incorporating a hybrid digital video transceiver. The digital cable system architecture combines reception of legacy video such as MPEG-TS based DVB-C streams with that of original IP video over DOCSIS channels. The system comprises a hybrid DVB/IP cable gateway STB capable of receiving both legacy DVB-C video and original IP video streams. The cable gateway device performs the front-end functionality (including QAM receiver, tuner and broadband connection) while the back-end functionality of video decoding and display is performed by one or more standard IP-STBs connected to the cable gateway device over a network (e.g., home LAN). Legacy MPEG-TS based DVB-C video is captured and encapsulated into packets for distribution over the network to the IP-STBs. The cable gateway distributes the original IP video received over the CATV source and the encapsulated legacy video as video over IP packets over the network.

Apparatus and methods for premises gateway functions that integrate or unify functions typically distributed across multiple devices within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the out-of-band (OOB) signaling functionality normally provided in each of a set-top-box (STB) and digital video recorder (DVR) are unified into a common OOB (e.g., DOCSIS) capable premises gateway device, thereby obviating OOB tuners and related components from each device. In another variant, the premises gateway is adapted for all-IP operation, such as for use with IP-based computers and IP set-top boxes, etc. Fully unified variants are also disclosed, wherein the DVR and/or STB functions are physically integrated within the premises gateway.

Systems and methods for allocating bandwidth in a switched digital video (SDV) system based on channel interest. In some embodiments, bandwidth is deallocated from channels and allocated to requested channels having a higher interest. Tiered approaches for allocating bandwidth are disclosed. Embodiments in which QAMs are allocated across services in a multi-service system based on interest are also disclosed. Embodiments for accommodating emergency access system (EAS) functionality in a SDV system are also disclosed.

An automated self-monitored alarm verification solution including at least a premises portion, a server portion, and an end user device portion. Alarm verification includes capturing by an image capture device at least one image in response to a detection event, and transmitting a first data signal including the image to a local signal processing device. The signal processing device transmits a second signal including at least a portion of the image to a remote hosted server according to at least a first set of predetermined parameters. After receiving the second signal, the server transmits a third signal including at least a portion of the image from the hosted server to a user device. Using the user device, a user views the image and indicates a validity status of the alarm based at least in part on the content of the image. Based at least upon either the validation status indicated by the user, or upon a failure to receive a message including a validation status from the user within a predetermined duration of time, the server portion may send an alarm signal to an emergency response service.

Private Multimedia Network (PMN) complements, and is an improved alternative to digital videoconferencing and multimedia delivery systems. PMN's desktop and meeting room delivery system is designed to support the exponential growth of enterprise team-based initiatives. PMN provides “one-stop-shopping” for the full multimedia rubric. It delivers user-friendly control and cost/effective TV and broadcast quality videoconferencing and other multimedia services to organizations with “critical mass” campuses and building complexes. Though digital systems dominate the videoconferencing marketplace, PMN's hybrid digital/analog architecture has no digital peer in breadth or quality of service within or between campuses. The novel architecture leverages advances in analog video short-haul technology, digital long-haul technology, and telephony audio and control technology to deliver four-level multimedia services: 1) premise; 2) campus; 3) multi-site; and 4) ubiquitous (any site with ITU compatible multimedia equipment (e.g., videoconferencing) and communication links). On balance, the price/performance afforded by PMN's centralized Telco-based control and audio delivery combined with its decentralized broadcast quality video distribution raise videoconferencing and other multimedia services to a new level of ubiquity. Just as telephones and PC LANs, PMN delivers expensive Boardroom and mobile cart videoconferencing capabilities to every desktop via existing multimedia wall plates. The key phases for this invention are: Lip-synchronization across differing network communication links and protocols; Ubiquitous multimedia service; Cost/effective room and desktop deployment; Telco control and audio; Broadcast quality video; Isochronous Quality; Centralized control and distributed operation; and Interoperable architecture.

The present invention overcomes the problems in the existing art described above by providing an online digital video signal transfer apparatus and method. Rental of the digital video signals occurs within an online environment including one or more client computers and at least one network server connected by a communications link to the one or more client computers. The method includes providing access to an online catalog stored within a memory of a network video server computer. The online catalog includes information regarding digital video signals available for rental from the network server computer. Requests are then received from client computers for rental of digital video signals selected from the online catalog for a specified period of time. The requests include electronic payment based on the selected digital video signal and the specified period of time. Once electronic payment is provided, the digital video signal is transmitted to the client computer via communications link. Once transmitted, the digital video signal is viewable by a user of the client computer during the specified period of time. Advantages of the invention include the ability to rent motion pictures without having to provide additional monies for purchase of the motion pictures. In addition, the present invention provides an interface that simulates the actual rental of motion pictures within a video rental store. Moreover, during the specified period of rental, the user is allowed to view the motion picture as many times as desired, thereby simulating the actual rental of video cassettes or DVDs of feature length motion pictures.

Disclosed herein is a secure, media exchange network and a method of securely exchanging media between electronic devices across the network. In an embodiment according to the present invention, media may be securely and simultaneously exchanged between friends, family members, business associates, government entities, military entities, law enforcement entities, and 3rd party media providers over a closed and secure media exchange network. The media may include, for example, digital video, digital audio, digital images, digital data, or any other form of digital information. Security features may include security techniques, associated security hardware, and associated security software.

An interactive television system is provided in which a program listings grid is displayed for the user. The user can scroll in the backwards direction to view information on programs that have been recorded and certain video-on-demand content. Icons or other visual indicators may be provided on program listings screens to indicate the status of the programs. The status information may include an indication of whether programs are available for recording, have been recorded, are being recorded, or will be recorded, or whether a given program is available for advance viewing through the interactive television system's video-on-demand service. Programs can be recorded automatically on user equipment or on network-based equipment. A program may be automatically recorded when a user sets a reminder for the program but fails to watch the program or when a given program is determined to satisfy the user's television viewing preferences.

A switched digital video (SDV) system includes an SDV manager for coordinating a SDV session requested by a subscriber terminal and a storage medium on which resides content to be transmitted during the SDV session. The system also includes a plurality of edge devices for receiving a transport stream that includes content provided by the storage medium and transmitting the transport stream over an access network to the subscriber terminal on one of a plurality of SDV channels. The SDV manager is configured to cause different renditions of an SDV program to be provided by the edge devices to subscriber terminals associated with different target groups. The target groups each include a plurality of subscriber terminals that is less than a number of subscriber terminals serviced by a distinct edge device or devices.

A digital video recorder (DVR) for use with a monitor and a set top box (STB) is disclosed. The STB demodulates program data from a program signal received over a communication channel and generates a STB graphical user interface (GUI). The DVR comprises a local memory for storing the program data received from the STB, a DVR interface for communicating with the STB, and a DVR controller. The DVR controller generates a DVR GUI, and in response to user input, communicates with the STB to coordinate whether the STB GUI or the DVR GUI is displayed on the monitor.

A system and method for increasing space or time resolution of an image sequence by combination of a plurality input sources with different space-time resolutions such that the single output displays increased accuracy and clarity without the calculation of motion vectors. This system of enhancement may be used on any optical recording device, including but not limited to digital video, analog video, still pictures of any format and so forth. The present invention includes support for example for such features as single frame resolution increase, combination of a number of still pictures, the option to calibrate spatial or temporal enhancement or any combination thereof, increased video resolution by using high-resolution still cameras as enhancement additions and may optionally be implemented using a camera synchronization method.

A method for verifying specific profile, legal, and social preference data responses for generating a selectively approved membership database. Membership security is completed with a biometric security authentication of each member upon member logon. A media player is used for recording and delivering video on demand; live video broadcast communications, and video/audio relational database management as well as searching the database for Digital video and audio content defined by indexed unique hint track data. Live video conferencing is available utilizing bandwidth scheduling methods for quality video control and creating audit logs for member accountability and content control.

The invention is an audio-video communication and answering system, where system's properties make it particularly suitable as a Digital Video Messaging System for, amongst other things, answering the door. The elements of the system are a DVMS outside module that is a wireless pocket PC with a proximity sensing, a video camera, a microphone, a speaker, a digital transmitter, a digital receiver, and a keypad; a computerized controller that is a personal computer with components for plaving and recording video and audio media; a DVMS inside module having a screen, a microphone, a speaker, a digital transmitter, a digital receiver, and a keypad; a wireless mode; and a DVMS database application with a graphic user interface. The computerized controller is in communication with a public switching telephone network enabling communication with remote peripheral devices, such as a cell phone, PDA, or computer. The system is based on the Microsoft Windows® Mobile 802.11b to coordinate communication between elements. The database application coordinates responses to prompts and events. The proximity sensor activates the system when the sensor detects the visitor's presence. This then starts a series of prompts and interaction prescribed by the application. The system includes an electrically actuated lock that can be actuated through a code entry or remotely. The system enables a visitor to communicate with an occupant either offsite or onsite, where the visitor never knows the occupant's location, unless the occupant discloses his location.

New intra angular prediction modes and methods for decoding are offered for providing greater accuracy when processing predictions of digital video data blocks. One new method considers predicting a current prediction sample by taking the linear interpolation of two previously reconstructed reference samples that lay along a common angular line. Another new method offers a method for making previously unavailable samples from a neighboring block available as reference samples when predicting a current prediction sample. Another new method considers a new combined intra prediction mode that utilizes a local mean to predict a current prediction sample. And a new decoding method offers to rearrange the order in which video data blocks are predicted based on the intra prediction mode used for predicting the video data blocks.

A digital portable communications device (1) for communication via a communications network (28) has circuitry for exchanging video signals between the device and an external video apparatus (25; 31). The circuitry for exchanging video signals is arranged to exchange the video signals in the form of analog video signals. When analog video signals are used, the exchange of video signals with external video apparatuses is not limited to apparatuses adapted to a specific protocol for the exchange of digital video signals. Thus, it is not needed to have specific software drivers for different digital protocols in the communications device in order to communicate with a camera or a display unit. Any digital or analog camera, video recorder or video display unit can be used as an accessory to the communications device.

A system and method are disclosed for improved video transmission, particularly in security settings. An improved security controller combines the interfaces and functionality for high quality video delivery over often less-than-perfect wireless networks, multi-camera analog/digital video controllers and encoders, multi-frequency wireless camera support, connectivity for serial controllers, network switching, and distributed digital video recording with optional object and motion detection. The video transmission in enhanced using wireless adaptive video encoding, mobile viewing optimization, and wireless bandwidth improvement.

A method and apparatus forming a user interface for examining and retrieving audio/video/data content from digital video recorders. This includes an improved time period selection mechanism, a rich array of temporal data presentations, such as timelines, lists, and thumbnail images, and a unified method of displaying content from either a direct stream or downloaded files. Summary information is provided relating to undownloaded content based on a selected time period.

A digital video recorder can be used to allow users to fast forward through segments of a recorded video signal, such as commercial breaks, while still allowing the advertiser a limited opportunity to present an advertising message. Frames from the commercial recorded with the video signal are electronically tagged. When the processor of the digital video recorder finds a tagged frame or frames during a fast forward operation, the processor may display the tagged frame as a static image during the fast forward operation or may play the series of tagged frames at normal speed as a condensed video clip during the fast forward operation. Thus, through a static image or a condensed video clip, an advertiser can present an advertising message, while the user may still skip the full-length commercials as quickly as before.

Provided is a system for mobile digital video recording, in which storage means stores digital data, input means inputs a video signal, recording means records the video signal in digital format to the storage means, mounting means mounts the apparatus at a first location in a motor vehicle, and output means outputs the video signal from the storage means to a data port mounted at a second location on the motor vehicle or to an external storage device via a wireless link.

A digital camera system including a first video capture unit for capturing a first digital video sequence of a scene and a second video capture unit that simultaneously captures a second digital video sequence that includes the photographer. A data processor automatically analyzes first digital video sequence to determine a low-interest spatial image region. A facial video sequence including the photographer's face is extracted from the second digital video sequence, and inserted into the low-interest spatial image region in the first digital video sequence to form the composite video sequence.

A method for providing cycling classes to remote users comprising providing information about available cycling classes that can be accessed via a digital communication network by a user at a remote location for display at the remote location, receiving from the user a selection of one of the available cycling classes for display at the remote location, and sending digital video and audio content comprising the selected cycling class from a server to a computer associated with a stationary bike at the remote location for display to the user on a display screen associated with the stationary bike. In various exemplary embodiments, the digital and audio content sent to the computer associated with the stationary bike is streamed for display to the user in substantially in real-time. In various exemplary embodiments, the digital and audio content sent to the computer associated with the stationary bike is archived content provided from a database.

A digital video decoding system receives packetized video data representing programs conveyed on a plurality of video channels. The system includes a plurality of buffers for storing encoded video data representing images of video programs conveyed on a corresponding plurality of video channels. An individual buffer, corresponding to an individual video channel, stores sufficient encoded video data to prevent an underflow condition following switching to decode a program conveyed on the individual video channel. A processor initiates switching to decode a program conveyed on a selected one of the plurality of video channels in response to a user channel selection input. A decoder decodes encoded video data received from one of the plurality of buffers corresponding to the program conveyed on the selected video channel as determined by switching initiated by the processor. The decoder also predicts a next channel to be selected by a user based on, (a) predetermined user channel and program preference criteria, (b) predetermined user channel navigation patterns, or (c) user data entry device sensory data.

In a multimedia recording and playback network for receiving from a content server a service package of multimedia content, the network including a media server in communication with the content server, a method of securely transmitting a master encryption key from the content server to the media server, including the steps downloading a service package certificate from the content server to the media server, authenticating, in the media server, the received service package certificate, the content server providing to the media server a key server certificate, a public key of the content server, and a client certificate request, the media server authenticating the key server certificate, providing to the content server, upon authentication of the key server certificate by the media server, a client certificate including a challenge signature, and a public key of the media server, the content server authenticating the client certificate including the challenge signature received from the media server, the media server requesting the master encryption key from the content server, and the content server responding by transmitting the master encryption key to media server.

A method of operating a multi-processor video encoder by determining a target size corresponding to a preferred number of bits to be used when creating an encoded version of a picture in a group of sequential pictures making up a video sequence. The method includes the steps of calculating a first degree of fullness of a coded picture buffer at a first time, operating on the first degree of fullness to return an estimated second degree of fullness of the coded picture buffer at a second time, and operating on the second degree of fullness to return an initial target sized for the picture. The first time corresponds to the most recent time an accurate degree of fullness of the coded picture buffer can be calculated and the second time occurs after the first time.

Methods, medium, and handheld, wireless devices which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decompress and display digital video images in real time. Real time wireless videoconferences connect multiple handheld video devices. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. A receiver can alter various setting including but not limited to the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. A zoom control can be used select a portion of interest of video being transmitted or being played back.

A digital video recorder (DVR) is disclosed comprising a unique ID, a hard disk drive (HDD) for storing a plurality of encrypted video programs and an encrypted file system, the encrypted file system comprising a plurality of encrypted file system entries for decrypting the plurality of video programs. The DVR further comprises host circuitry for interfacing with the HDD, the host circuitry comprising a cryptography facility for encrypting plaintext file system entries into the encrypted file system entries stored on the HDD, and for decrypting the encrypted file system entries read from the HDD into plaintext file system entries. The cryptography facility comprises a pseudo-random sequence generator, responsive to the unique ID, for generating a pseudo-random sequence. The cryptography facility further comprises an encoder for combining the pseudo-random sequence with the plaintext file system entries to generate the encrypted file system entries stored on the HDD, and a decoder for combining the pseudo-random sequence with the encrypted file system entries read from the HDD to generate the plaintext file system entries.

A method and system are provided for counting moving objects in a digital video stream. In contrast to known computationally-expensive methods, areas of motion are determined by threshold subtracting a current video frame from a short term average video scene. An object box surrounding an object is determined by threshold subtracting the current video frame from a long term average video scene. Coordinates of the moving object are identified by associating the area of motion with the object box, if it overlaps the area of motion, to define a moving object box. An event counter can be incremented when the moving object box is in a buffer zone in the current frame, and was in a detection zone in an earlier frame, and was initially detected in a buffer zone on the opposite side of the detection zone.

Provided is a mobile event-recording device that includes distributed elements within, attached to or otherwise mounted to a mobile vehicle, with the principal elements being: a first camera providing a real-time video signal that corresponds to an observed outboard live-motion scene; and a digital video recorder receiving the video signal provided by the camera and recording the video signal in response to a trigger signal (e.g., an activation switch for a light bar or siren, an air bag sensor signal indicating air bag deployment, or depression of an emergency button or a dedicated recording activation switch). The video recorder uses a buffer to receive and store the video signal so as to preserve the video signal during a programmable sliding (or rolling) time interval prior to the triggering event. Thus, in response to provision of the trigger signal, at least a portion of the video signal stored in the buffer is preserved for recording by the video recorder on a hard disk (or other long-term storage medium) and thereafter, the video recorder records directly on the hard disk (or other long-term storage medium).

Systems and methods for providing custom video mosaic pages are provided. The custom pages may be locally-generated, remotely-generated, or partially locally-generated and partially remotely-generated. The custom pages may include local content, such as content recorded to a digital video recorder (DVR), overlaid on a multi-video composite feed. A local compositing system may render the mosaic pages and dynamically customize the pages based on user profile data, user preferences, and active user monitoring.

A digital recording device that is optimized for field use in motor vehicles, and methods for capturing, storing, and retaining digital information recorded by such digital recording device, are disclosed. The digital recording device comprises a non-removable hard disk drive for data storage, eliminating the need to use removable media cartridges, and a small control panel, and is packaged in a ruggedized, compact form factor.